*** Correction *** At 06:06 I'm pointing at the 'water pump', this is of course the thermostat housing. There is an O-ring here which can fail, leading to coolant weeping out but this is a separate issue to the water pump failure issue. The water pump is sited lower down, just above the gear change linkage and in front of the front sprocket area. This video gives a detailed breakdown of what to look for and how to fix the issue: ua-cam.com/video/1Cv7U95unfo/v-deo.html Apologies for this error and many thanks to @markjenkins905 for flagging this to me. *** Correction ***
Two points to consider in your review: first the water pump issue was a problem only with earlier models. Just not an issue with later models. Second, the lower horsepower compared to previous 500's is intentional to make the bike A2 compliant.
Hi, thanks for the feedback. I was just having another read through the forums and found this thread. www.cb500x.com/index.php/topic,9811.10.html all the guys there seem to be posting about post ‘18 models following an apparent redesign of the water pump. Have you some further links, I’d really like to see the full picture! Re the power output, yes spot on, I should’ve been clearer. Honda certainly quote a 2bhp higher figure (iirc) in other markets not covered by the A2 restriction. What would be fun would be to have a dyno run of both a uk spec and a rest of the world spec bike to see if there’s actually any discernible difference. ;)
@raymondvoigt7336 thank you for that. All the bikes that you’ll see on the channel I either own or have rented, I don’t get ‘free’ bikes from manufacturers or dealers and so I’m under no pressure to write positive reviews like many of the big UA-cam channels. Rest assured if I think a bike has negatives I’ll call them out just as loudly as the positives. :)
Greetings! Personally, after 8 months of owning this bike, I got to the point of hating the saddle, initially because the leather has started to fold and shed where i sit. after several kilometres i find the saddle hard and uncomfortable. i have an appointment in 10 days to go and change it! Overall, the bike is amazing
@ionasloulis6890 Hello! I'm really sorry to hear that, may I ask which model year it is? Coming straight from the NC750X which *is* hard as nails, I thought this one pretty good, on the '22 model anyway. Let me know how you get on!
@@BikingChap I got the 2022 model. I bought it on October! If you ride this bike long enough I think you will notice too 😅 Thankfully.. the saddle is a part that can be changed easily and with a “low” cost.
out of all the honda seats i've had, this was the best, but still not good....i went with a corbin and now i can do 8hrs+ on that saddle easily. so much more support and comfort.
@TheDiamoniteG Odd isn't it? I don't know if it's just cost cutting, or as Yamaha are fond of doing, selling a poor seat as standard and then offering a 'comfort seat' as an extra to extract some more cash from us. What I do know is that my old TDM900 was far better and genuinely 'all day' comfortable.
Worth noting that should the valve adjustment be required it can be done without removal of the cams. The rocker pivot pins can be removed to gain access to the shims which sit under the buckets.
@@BikingChap Not as easy as the NC though, but much easier than the new Hornet/Transalp and NT11 which uses a direct and rocker off a single cam. One of the reasons I like the NC... super simple. :D
@christianweller4288 that’s interesting I hadn’t picked up it was so involved in the NT/AT and Hornet engines. The NC really is a piece of cake to maintain, value clearance adjustment doesn’t get much easier.
This seems like the epitome of a modern UJM. It does everything you will ever need and looks to do it all very well. But, is it lacking the soul required to get the blood pumping?
That absolutely sums it up. Think NTV650 minus the shaft drive and you're not a million miles off. Tough, dependable, cheap to run, but not the most exciting bike on the planet :)
@oolucasoo1 thanks for that, really appreciated. The intro / outro we’re done by a guy who came recommended, he’s on Fiverr, I can find the link if you’re interested. :)
That's not the water pump I'm afraid at 06.06, that's the thermostat housing where the faulty O-ring lives. The water pump is lower down next to the side stand. You may have to re-edit your video.
Interesting why there’s a large variation. I did ask the guys flagging this to me if it could’ve been down to pressure washing or some other external factor and they all swore blind they never used pressure washers.
It hasn't got twin rotors, it's got twin discs. Where the hell has that word come from. Forty years in the motor trade and no mechanic ever uses that word!
I’m no mechanic so thanks for pointing out my error. My understanding was that disc brakes are compromised of a calliper and a disc or rotor. I thought convention was to refer to them as a disc where it was directly bolted to the hub and a rotor when it was a fully floating design. Just a slip of terminology on my part I’m afraid.
Do we get our discs replaced, no we get out rotor replaced , so either can be used and btw people say either here all the time in my 50 yrs on the planet.
@user-ei6rr7fk7o Thanks! I'm a great believer that all bikes are a compromise and it's about finding the one that best fits your own priorities, in other words there are few 'bad' bikes and indeed fewer still 'perfect' bikes. The 500 is in a slightly odd place where it's obviously bigger than the 300/400cc A2 bikes but not as powerful as the various 650 twins so it sits in the market with few obvious competitors. In my view it's popular because it hits a lot of the priorities of a lot of riders and that's no mean feat.
@@BikingChapagreed. In my opinion I think the 650 cc 70 bhp segment is just right for fun / sensible mpg however I am seriously considering either the NC / cb500 as I am older and do more pottering rather than high speed riding.
I tend to agree. I certainly convinced that we’ll see a resurgence in smaller bikes as our generation ages. For me it’s not so much an excess of power but the weight which I’m starting to feel and the CB feel *significantly* more than the NC. I just wish KTM would bring back the 690 Duke, light as a feather and 70bhp. What’s not to like!
*** Correction *** At 06:06 I'm pointing at the 'water pump', this is of course the thermostat housing. There is an O-ring here which can fail, leading to coolant weeping out but this is a separate issue to the water pump failure issue. The water pump is sited lower down, just above the gear change linkage and in front of the front sprocket area. This video gives a detailed breakdown of what to look for and how to fix the issue:
ua-cam.com/video/1Cv7U95unfo/v-deo.html
Apologies for this error and many thanks to @markjenkins905 for flagging this to me.
*** Correction ***
Two points to consider in your review: first the water pump issue was a problem only with earlier models. Just not an issue with later models. Second, the lower horsepower compared to previous 500's is intentional to make the bike A2 compliant.
Hi, thanks for the feedback. I was just having another read through the forums and found this thread. www.cb500x.com/index.php/topic,9811.10.html all the guys there seem to be posting about post ‘18 models following an apparent redesign of the water pump. Have you some further links, I’d really like to see the full picture!
Re the power output, yes spot on, I should’ve been clearer. Honda certainly quote a 2bhp higher figure (iirc) in other markets not covered by the A2 restriction. What would be fun would be to have a dyno run of both a uk spec and a rest of the world spec bike to see if there’s actually any discernible difference. ;)
Very good even handed report!
@raymondvoigt7336 thank you for that. All the bikes that you’ll see on the channel I either own or have rented, I don’t get ‘free’ bikes from manufacturers or dealers and so I’m under no pressure to write positive reviews like many of the big UA-cam channels. Rest assured if I think a bike has negatives I’ll call them out just as loudly as the positives. :)
I have the same bike and I love it.
That's great to hear, a great, versatile allrounder in my book :)
Greetings! Personally, after 8 months of owning this bike, I got to the point of hating the saddle, initially because the leather has started to fold and shed where i sit. after several kilometres i find the saddle hard and uncomfortable. i have an appointment in 10 days to go and change it! Overall, the bike is amazing
@ionasloulis6890 Hello! I'm really sorry to hear that, may I ask which model year it is? Coming straight from the NC750X which *is* hard as nails, I thought this one pretty good, on the '22 model anyway. Let me know how you get on!
@@BikingChap I got the 2022 model. I bought it on October! If you ride this bike long enough I think you will notice too 😅 Thankfully.. the saddle is a part that can be changed easily and with a “low” cost.
@ionasloulis6890 How disappointing, I hope Honda fix it ok for you, good luck!
out of all the honda seats i've had, this was the best, but still not good....i went with a corbin and now i can do 8hrs+ on that saddle easily. so much more support and comfort.
@TheDiamoniteG Odd isn't it? I don't know if it's just cost cutting, or as Yamaha are fond of doing, selling a poor seat as standard and then offering a 'comfort seat' as an extra to extract some more cash from us. What I do know is that my old TDM900 was far better and genuinely 'all day' comfortable.
Worth noting that should the valve adjustment be required it can be done without removal of the cams. The rocker pivot pins can be removed to gain access to the shims which sit under the buckets.
@christainweller4288 thanks for sharing that, I wonder if that’s how the Honda techs do it, seems to make much more sense.
@@BikingChap Not as easy as the NC though, but much easier than the new Hornet/Transalp and NT11 which uses a direct and rocker off a single cam. One of the reasons I like the NC... super simple. :D
@christianweller4288 that’s interesting I hadn’t picked up it was so involved in the NT/AT and Hornet engines. The NC really is a piece of cake to maintain, value clearance adjustment doesn’t get much easier.
This seems like the epitome of a modern UJM. It does everything you will ever need and looks to do it all very well. But, is it lacking the soul required to get the blood pumping?
That absolutely sums it up. Think NTV650 minus the shaft drive and you're not a million miles off. Tough, dependable, cheap to run, but not the most exciting bike on the planet :)
Great detail thanks
You're welcome, glad it was of some use!
Add Redline Water Wetter and forget about the water pump issues!
I've never used it but I'll look in to it, many thanks!
Nice informative video 👍🏼. May I ask, who did your video intro? Thanks
@oolucasoo1 thanks for that, really appreciated. The intro / outro we’re done by a guy who came recommended, he’s on Fiverr, I can find the link if you’re interested. :)
Yes please, that would be great 👍🏼
@oolucasoo1 Not a problem, this was the guy I used. Fast and excellent comms: www.fiverr.com/s/AR135Y Hope it helps. :)
1:55 you said the same size for both tires. The rear is a 160/60-17.
Oh blimey, over 8,000 views in and you’re the first to notice that error! Thanks for pointing it out, I’ll add a correction later today. 👍
Good info thanks 😊
You’re welcome, hope it was useful. :-)
That's not the water pump I'm afraid at 06.06, that's the thermostat housing where the faulty O-ring lives. The water pump is lower down next to the side stand. You may have to re-edit your video.
@markjenkins905 Argh, I had a sneaking suspension that might not have been right, thanks for the correction, I’ll re-edit tonight!
I would say there's no issue regarding the wheel bearings. My rear bearings went at 72k miles & my fronts are still going at 96k miles !!!!
Interesting why there’s a large variation. I did ask the guys flagging this to me if it could’ve been down to pressure washing or some other external factor and they all swore blind they never used pressure washers.
@@BikingChap Maybe they were riding in sand or similar……..
@@papachis9535 maybe they were, maybe they’d been standing for months outside, I guess we’ll never know. :)
What pannier bracket did you use?
@jaysonapostol5726 Hi, it was the Givi PLO1171MK kit if I remember correctly, hope that helps. 👍
It hasn't got twin rotors, it's got twin discs. Where the hell has that word come from. Forty years in the motor trade and no mechanic ever uses that word!
I’m no mechanic so thanks for pointing out my error. My understanding was that disc brakes are compromised of a calliper and a disc or rotor. I thought convention was to refer to them as a disc where it was directly bolted to the hub and a rotor when it was a fully floating design. Just a slip of terminology on my part I’m afraid.
I think that's just a British English vs American issue. This side of the pond they should always be referred to as discs.
Do we get our discs replaced, no we get out rotor replaced , so either can be used and btw people say either here all the time in my 50 yrs on the planet.
I got this bike. Its over-rated.
Thanks for the feedback, what do you rate better at this price point?
@@BikingChap Good question
@user-ei6rr7fk7o Thanks! I'm a great believer that all bikes are a compromise and it's about finding the one that best fits your own priorities, in other words there are few 'bad' bikes and indeed fewer still 'perfect' bikes.
The 500 is in a slightly odd place where it's obviously bigger than the 300/400cc A2 bikes but not as powerful as the various 650 twins so it sits in the market with few obvious competitors.
In my view it's popular because it hits a lot of the priorities of a lot of riders and that's no mean feat.
@@BikingChapagreed. In my opinion I think the 650 cc 70 bhp segment is just right for fun / sensible mpg however I am seriously considering either the NC / cb500 as I am older and do more pottering rather than high speed riding.
I tend to agree. I certainly convinced that we’ll see a resurgence in smaller bikes as our generation ages. For me it’s not so much an excess of power but the weight which I’m starting to feel and the CB feel *significantly* more than the NC. I just wish KTM would bring back the 690 Duke, light as a feather and 70bhp. What’s not to like!